Republican News · Thursday 23 January 1997
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other public rep for Sinn Féin
``A victory for the democratic process,'' were the words which an elated Anne O'Leary used to describe her co-option as a Sinn Féin public representative onto Bantry Town Commission on Tuesday 14 January.
In an unprecedented result the Sinn Féin member replaced a former Fine Gael member of the local authority who relinquished his political seat when he was appointed as a District Justice last October.
A Fine Gael member also contended for the co-option and there was heated debate between the 3 Fianna Fail, 3 Fine Gael and 2 Independent Town Commissioners. In the end, Anne O'Leary received the support of the three Fianna Fáilers and the two Independents making it a 5:3 result in her favour.
ne O'Leary, a secondary school teacher, has been a member of Sinn Féin for over ten years and stood in the 1992 General Election and the Local Elections of June 1994. In the latter, she was defeated by a mere 2 votes and eliminated on the 14th count, coming 10th in the nine seat Town Commission Election.
She now joins three other Sinn Féin local authority members in County Cork - all elected for the first time in the last election of June 1994. They are Councillor Martin Hallinan, Youghal UDC, Councillor Kieran McCarthy, Cobh UDC and fellow West Corkonian, Councillor Cionnaith O Súilleabháin, Clonakilty UDC.
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